Centeno v. I & C Earthmovers Corp. et al, No. 1:2012cv23097 - Document 166 (S.D. Fla. 2014)
Court Description: ORDER granting in part and denying in part 109 Motion for Imposition of Liquidated Damages; denying 137 Motion to Amend/Correct ; granting in part and denying in part 139 Motion for Sanctions. Signed by Magistrate Judge John J. O'Sullivan on 2/3/2014. (mkr)
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Centeno v. I & C Earthmovers Corp. et al Doc. 166 UNI TED STATES DI STRI CO URT CT SO UTHERN DI STRI O F FLO RI CT DA Case No.1: CV12- 23097- ' O SULLI N VA I CONSENTJ OMA R DEL CARM EN VALLE CENTENO , NESTO R JO SE M EJI OBANDO ,and aI A I o her smi l st t un 29 U. C. 6( , t si ly i i ar ua on der S. 21 B) Pl ntl ai i VS. I EARTHM OVERS CO R P. LEONEL &c , GARC I and CARLOS M .GARCI , A A Def endant s / O RDER THI MATTER i bef e t Cour on t Pl ntfs'Moton f I posii of S s or he t he ai if i or m ton Lqui ed Damag ( # 1 1 / 8 1 ) t e De endan ' Mo i f Remii o i dat es DE 09, 0 1 / 3 , h f t t or s on tt f t ur Damag I op l Awar f Tr el me ( 1 1 / / 3)an t es mpr er y ded or av Ti DE# 37, 2 26 1 d he Def dans' t f Sanci s an Ator y Fees( 1 1 27 1 . s en t Mo i or on ton d t ne DE# 39, 2/ / 3) The e m otons ar addr i e essed bel ow. ANALYSI S 1. De endanh 'Moton f Sanc i and A/or Fee ( 13 12 2 1 f i or tons ney s DE# 9, / 7/ 3) On Ocober1 201 f lwi a t r - ti ,hej yr ed a v diti t 7, 3, ol ng h ee day r t ur each o al er c n f v oft e pl ntf an agai tt e de en t See Ver c For ( 1 8, a or h ai is d f ns h f dan s. dit m DE# 0 1 / 8 1 ) As p tofi v dit t j ya d pl n i Ne t J e Me i Oba 0 1 / 3 . ar t er c, he ur war ait f s or os j s f a ndo ( er n fer' j '$ 3 0 i u ai ov t wages Th de end s a k,n er h eia t $ i ) 45,60.0 n np d eri Me a' me . e f ant s it al t att e Cour ex cs i i er tpo i or t puns Mr Mei f f s y i h h a, t er ie t nh en wer n der o ih . ja or alel s t tf ng atdeposii and atti t he was unem pl es iyi ton ral hat oyed f t m ont aferhe was or wo hs t Dockets.Justia.com f e b t e de en t . Def dan s Mo i f San t s andAtor ey F ( i d y h f dan s See en t ' ton or c i r on t n ees DE# 1 ,1 / / 3) 39 2 27 1 . Atti Mr Me i f s y t t i t the ha b unempl e f t mon h ral . j alel es ied ha a f d een oy d or wo ts aferhe was fr by t def t ied he endant s: Q. Di yourIe change afert s frng? d i f t hi ii Di you l sl d ose eep? Di i afectyourf i Ie i any ot way t you woul wantt t l he dt f am l i n y f her hat d o elt j r abou ? uy t Ofcour i i a taum a t f t you have been fr afer se t s r o eel hat ied t wor ng seven year al ki s, mostei y s ata com pany,and you ar ght ear e afeced bec s a t t t I f t au e, fer ha , was wih aj f G o m on hs. t out ob or t Q. How di you f durng t d eel i hose t m ont wo hs? A. Thatr l - Im ean,you even I sl eal y ose eep.You ar stessed. e r Pr em s wih t f i To know t on Frdays,atI ,Iused obl t he am l y. hat i east t send m oney t m y m om ,and my chi en,and Icoul tdo o o l dr dn' t f G o m ont Ieven have a daught w ho was atendi hat or hs. er t ng col l and Ihad t have herwihdr fom col ege o t aw r l ege. Q. How di t m ak you f ? d hat e eel A. Em otonal t ' som et ng t r l m oves you w hen you have i l hats y, hi hat eal y a sal y,and t you cannotr ve any m oney,you f r l ar hen ecei eel eal y bad. *** Q. Durng t i hose t m ont aferyou wer fr wer you I ng f wo hs t e ied, e ooki or wor k? A. Obvou y. woul go ou t Iokf aj i sl I d t o o or ob. Q. You fnal f i l ound one aboutG o m ont aAeryou wer fr y hs e ied, rght i ? A. Yes. *** 2 A. l we cal at fom Sept ber when Iwas fr untl oday,Ido f cul e r em , ied, it have a l oss. Q. How m uch i t I s hat oss? A. Onl t G o mont s t I s w ihoutaj I woul be y he h hat wa t ob.t d $8, Two mont w ihoutwor 000. hs t k. *** Q. I I had been payi you t overi e t t owed you f &C ng he tm hat hey com par t whatyou wer m aki t ed o e ng oday,do you know how m uch addii tonaleconom i I t woul have been f you? c oss hat d or A. AtI tlwoul have $26, ofI eas d 800 oss. Q. Can you r epeatt num ber hat ? $2 8 The G o m ont w ihouta j an fom Sep emb t 6,00. hs t ob d r t er o Oct obermaki $1I ng ess. Q. That t num bert y have cal at ' he s hat ou cul ed? Yes. Tral an r ( 1 a 78,8 8 112 1 )( i Tr sc i DE# 29 t pt 0, 4, / 4/ 3 emph i adde . hi depost ass d) At s ion i on Dec er20, emb 2013,ol wig ti , . jat t i t athi sar d e wi f l n ralMr Me i es ied h s t t at t o f h Sou h t n wasSep ember25, 2. Dep ion ( 1 - at7,1 1 1 .Mr t easer t 201 See ost DE# 60 2 i / 4/ 4) . Mei wa f e fom t s empl ment t t e def dan son Sept b 20, 2. e j s i d r hi a r oy wi h h en t em er 201 Se Tr Tr c it( 1 a 71 77,112 1 ) Th Mr Mei s ti t t y t the i ans rp DE# 29 t , al / 4/ 3 . us, . ja' rales i mon ha was unem pl oyed f t m ont afert def or wo hs t he endant fr hi i f se. s ied m s al W hen t e i bad f t conducti t cour oft I i i t coul be her s aih n he se he igaton hat t d adequat y sanctoned undert r es,t Coud or narl shoul r y on t r es el i he ul he di i y d el he ul r hert t i entpoweroft Cour,buti i t i or ed di eton oft at han he nher he t f n he nf m scr i he Cour,neiherst ut norr es ar up t t t t at e ul e o ask,t Coud m ay saf y r y on i i ent he el el t nher s 3 po . amb sv.NASCO,Ic. 501 U. 32,50 ( 991 . Cou s iher tp wer Ch er n . S. 1 ) The d' n en ower i der edfom t n 'o mana I s own a f r so a t achev t or eryan s i r he eed ' v t ge i l t fai s s o i e he d l d ex ediousdipo t ofc s 'I at ( er ct ton an quo at mars p t i s sion a es. d. 49 i nal i i s d t i i ' nt a on k omied) Th ' d' i er tp t . e' t Cou s nh en owers l be e cied wi c tonand i houd xer s t au i h t s i nvocaton r r a fndi ofbad f t 'Kor i equies i ng aih. ' nhauserv.Com m ' ofSoc.Sec. 685 F. r , 3d 1 4,1 7 ( t Ci. 2 . ee alo Bar esv.Dal 1 F.d 1 2, 21 ( 1 h Ci. 25 25 11h r 201 ) s , s n t 58 3 21 1 4 1 t r on, 1 998)(Th k t unl kn ( c s i er tp ' e ey o oc ig t oud' nh en oweri a fn n ofba f t n.n he) s idig d ai ) l h. exer si is i entpower t Cour tm ustcom pl wih t m andat ofdue ci ng t nher , he t' d y t he es pr ocess,bot i det m i ng t t r sie bad f t exi s and i assessi f ' h n er ni hat he equi t aih st n ng ees.' ' By n v. zh , F. d 10 11 ( 1 h Ci. r e Ne at 261 3 75, 06 1 t r 2001 ( t Ch ) cing amber ,501 U. at i s S. 50 . ) Th Coud r j t Mr Me i s ex ana in t the i a si e c s r c i worer e eec s . j a' pl to ha s mpl on tu t on k and t hi i hat s naccur e t i ony was due t conf on,m i ak ora f t mem or at estm o usi st e auly y. See Pl ntf' Response i Opposii t Def ai ifs n ton o endant M oton f Sanctons and s' i or i Ator ey F ( 1 at7 8,17 1 . e ti qu t i no so f a t at t n ees DE# 43 - / / 4) The ven n es i s t ong go h on Mr Me i woud h e di i t r alng i. eov , e wasabl t t s i i de aia . ja l av f cul ec l t Mor er h f y i e o e ty n t l t f ti ast o h ev st tt pl e sh y be or orafert i t p id. . j s r al o t er ent ha ook ac odl f e t hs i er Mr Me i me o a' f se t i ony was al notdue t conf on orm i ake.He t ii specii l t al estm so o usi st estfed fcal hat y he was unabl t send m oney t hi m ot and chi en f t m ont and t hi e o o s her l dr or wo hs hat s dau t wa f c t wi dr w fom c lge asa r l o Mr Me i sun lymen . gh er s ored o t a r ol h e esut f . j a' empo t See Tr Tr c it( 1 a 78,1 / 4/ 3) Th e i no i c ton i t e tans r t i ans rp DE# 29 t al 1 2 1 . er s ndia i n h r c i p t atMr Me i wasc f s ordi n tun s an t qu t .I f c , e r t dl h . ja on u ed d o dert d he es i n a t h epea e y on and consi enty t ii t t s t m ont perod ofunem pl ent The specii t wih st l estfed o hi woh i oym . fci t y 4 whih Mr Me i r on t t qu t p ed byhi c s c er ng hi c . j esp ded o he es i os a ons s oun el onc ni s unem pl entconvi oym nces t Cour t hi r he t hat s esponses wer delber e and i ended t e i at nt o mil t ej y sead h ur . Th Cour fn b cearand c vi ig evdenc t atMr Mei I t t j r e t ids y l on ncn i e h . j i o he u y a ed when he t ii t he was unem pl estfed hat oyed f t m ont aferhe was fr by t or wo hs t ied he de end t See Tr Tr s it( 1 a 78, 8 1124/ 3) s a. .Me i s f an s. i an cr DE# 29 t 80, 4, / 1 , upr Mr j al p a' mi sconductcons iut bad f t and i sanctonabl undert Coud' i entpower tt es aih s i e he s nher . l f ,'he i entpower docti i m ostofen i ed wher a pady com m is n act ' nher t s rne s t nvok e t p j yorde to s ordocor evdenc 'Qan um Commcn Cor v. arBr d. lc. erur sry t s i e. ' t 's p. St oa , n , 473 F.Sup 2 1 p. d 249,1 ( D. a.20 )( i ton omied) Th Cour f erfn 269 S. Fl 07 ct i s t . e a t t udh ids t at he ap opr e s c i f Mr Me i sm ic h t pr i an t or . ja' s ondu ti t STRI M r Me i s a d at on c so KE . j war a' f r al i of$50, f pastand f ur ment pai and suferng.The def or et i on at 000 or ut e al n f i l endant s ar al entted t an awar ofator s f butonl as i r at t t flng oft e so il o d t ney' ees y t el es o he i i he Def dan s Mo i f Sanci s an Ator eyFees ( 1 1 27 1 . I iher t en t ' t or on ton d t n DE# 39, 2/ / 3) 'l n en l power m us be exer sed w ih r r ntand di eton .... prm ar aspectoft s t ci t estai scr i A i y hat di eton i t abit t f on an appr i e sanctona Cham ber 501 U. at44 scr i s he ly o ashi i oprat i ' ' s, S, (n er al i i omied) The Cou t le er s i dic e i an d t e it n ct on t . at t r wi x cie t s r ton d eny h l s def endant r s' eques s f addii t or tonalr i and f sanctons underFeder Rul ofCi l el ef or i al e vi Pr ocedur 37. e 1I t rm oton, t def n hei i he endanssat t asas t Mr Mei ' t t e hat anci on, . ja ' d bebared shoul r f om an awar ofdam ages f back wages,em otonal r d or i dam ages,and fontw ages. The i e o r ' ' ssu f f on wages and back w ages w as r ved b t e pari i a pari s tem ent See Joi t r t esol y h t n es t etl al . n Stt Repod ( # 1 at2,127 1 . Cour hasr e andappr t ts t aus DE 62 / / 4) The t eviwed oved ha etl t emen. See Or Appr ngSetl der ovi t ementAgr eement( 165,130/4) The$9, f I tback DE# / 1 . 020 oros wagesawar b t j yt Mr Mejawasnegotat byt pari t $5, andwi notbe ded y he ur o . i i ed he tes o 300 l l di t bed by t s Coud. s ur hi 5 2. Pl nt/s'Moton f I ai i i or mposii ofLi da ed Damages ( # 1 1 1 / ) ton qui t DE 09, 0/ 8 13 The pl ntfs seek t r ai i f o ecoverI dat dam ages agai tt def i qui ed ns he endant s pur an t 2 U. C. 21 b) See Pl n i s Mo i f I osion ofLi da ed su t o 6 S. j 6( . ait f ' ton or mp t f i qui t Da es ( # 1 a 1,1 / 8 1 ) W i r pec t pl n i OmarDeI menVal mag DE 09 t 0 1 / 3 . t es t o ait f h f Car l e Ceneno, h pl n is s ek at al d o $90, 0 ( 45, i unp d o edi pls t t e ait f e f ot awar f 72 $ 360 n ai v me u $ 3 i l da ed damag ) I a 2. i r pe tt pl n i Me i t e pl n is 45,60 n i t qui es .d. t W t es c o ait f j h ait f h f a, f i t ls nial ough a t al war o $1 7 ( 45, 60 i un d o eri pl $9,202i iy t ot a d f 58,60 $ 3 n pai v t me us 0 n ba wag pls $5 38 i t ali i t d d ck es, u 4, 0 n ot I da e amagespls $5 000 f r t iton .d. qu u 0, or e al i ) I a The def endant oppose t r i r s he el equest i pad, ef ed,. q because t cl m t have hey ai hey . satsfed t rbur ofpr ng good f t t baran i posii ofI dat dam ages. i i hei den ovi aih o m ton i qui ed See De en ts)Res ons i Oppo t t Plit f Mo i f Lquda e Dama f dan l ' p e n sion o an i ' ton or i i t d i fs ges ( 1 a 1 1 26 1 , DE# 38 t , 2/ / 3) The appl e l i welest i i cabl aw s l abl shed.' em pl erwho vi at t pr si ' Any oy ol es he ovi ons ofs c i 206 I nmum wa )ors t 20 Iv t wage )oft i t l sh l e et on mii ges eci 7 o eri on me s hs ie alb t l e t t em pl i abl o he oyee orem pl oyees afect i t am ountoft runpai m i m um f ed n he hei d ni wages,ort runpai ovedi e com pensaton,as t case m ay be,and i an hei d m i he n addional t equal i amoun a I da ed dama . 29 U. C.j 21 b)( tsi t qui ges' ' S. 6( empha sadd ; si edl s alo Rodr z v Far St es Gr er .lca 51 F. 1 ee s i aue . m or oc v n , 8 3d 259,1 2 ( t Ci 2008 . 27 11 h r . ) Ii i t s mpodan t no e t at'al emply who s st a oi I dat damag b s to t h ' n I o er eek o v d i qui ed es ear t bur he den ofpr ng t is vi aton was bot i good f t and pr cat upon such ovi hat t ol i hn aih edi ed r easonabl gr e ounds t i woul be unf rt i pose upon hi m or t a hat t d ai o m m e han com pensat y ver c . Dvbach v.St e ofFl Dent ofCor. 942 F. 1562,1566 or dit' ' at a. . r, 2d 2see f not 1,suor oot e a . 6 ( t Ci 1 ) Her t ej ys ic l f nd 'th tt e d en s ei erkn w or 11h r 991 . e, h ur pecf al ou 'l a h ef dant t . i y l h e s owed r kes di egar f t e ma t of et eri I c c du t pr bt b h ec l s sr d or h ter wh h t si) on c was ohii y s ed t e Fai Lab St dar Ac . See Ver c For ( 1 a 2,1 / 8 1 ) A 'ur ' h r or an ds t' ' dit m DE# 08 t 0 1 / 3 . j ys fndi ofwif ness deprves t di rctcour ofany di eton t r i ng lul l i he sti t scr i o educe I dat i qui ed damages based on is own fndi ofgood f t 'Al ez Per v.Sanf d- rando t i ng aih. var ' ez or o l Kenn Cl Ic. 51 F. 11 0,1 66 ( t Ci.2 ) Th pl n i sar en ied t el ub. n , 5 3d 5 1 11 h r 008 . e ait f e t l o f t I da ed dama on alcai wi t e ex ep i o t e $9,203a ded t Mr Me i i t qui ges I l ms t h c ton f h h 0 war o . j a f l back wages on hi r al i cl m . or ost s et i on ai at 3. Def endants M oton f Rem i t ofDam ages I pr ' i or hiur m opery Aw ar l ded f or Tr Ti e ( 13 12 26 1 avel m DE# 7, / / 3) Th d en sf e ef dant udhers t r e t e amoun awar byt e j r at r on eek o educ h t ded h u y ti al t e gr dst t ( )t e pl n i sf ld t es a i t ren iemen t tav tme h oun ha : 1 h aitf ai o t bl hei t l t o r eli f e sh t un t e lw; 2)Mr Me i wi dr hi cai f ta el i i i en i y an ( M r der h a ( . j t ew s l m or r v t n t tr a h me s et d 3) . Me i admied he wa n en iedt tav t a t 201 See De endan ' Mot f ja t t s ot t l o r el i fer 0. t me f t s i or on Rem ii o Damag I op l Awar ed f Tr v Ti ( 1 at12,1 / 6/ 3) tt f t ur es mpr er y d or a el me DE# 37 - 2 2 1 . The El ent Cicui has hel t a Coud m ustgr a ' ev h r t d hat ant ' ti orr itt when t new ral em tiur he awar ex ee t e maxmu l io a r onabl r e wi nwhc t ej yma d c ds h i m i t f eas m e ang t hi ih h ur y pr eryop at 'W arenv.For Mo orCr di Co.693 F.d 1 73,1 ( 1h Ci op l er e. r d t et , 2 3 380 1 t r . 1 ) Th El en h Ci i alo f lwst 'un 982 . e ev t r t s ol cu o he ' damen al i i e . . h t e f cf t pr pl . t at h a t nc fnderdet m i t quant ofdam ages i ci lcases. Hawkes v.Ayer 537 F. i er nes he um n vi ' ' s, 2d 3As not above, t s am ountwas nego i ed an r ed hi tat d educ byt pari t $5, ed he t o 300. es SeeSetl tAgr temen eement( 1 1,1/ 1 .TheCourwi notl daet sr ed DE# 62- 27/4) t l i t hi educ l qui amount. 7 83 8 ( t Ci.1 76)( ercur . 'ngen ala r ti or r cig aj r ' 6, 37 5 h r 9 p i 4' aml I er , emi t der edu n u ys t ur a d t t ou erI io t pr fi t e a opr t r war o he t i t f he oo s h ppr i e emed wh e t e j ysdamage m a y er h ur' awar exceeds t am ountes abl d he t i shed by t evi he dence. Gol ei v.M anhatan ' dst n ' t Idus .nc , F. 1 n . l . 758 2d 435,1 ( 1h Ci.1 ) I t is an c e, h pl n is 448 1 t r 985 .n he n t t as t e ait f f c r t eibur enofpr fast t e amoun ofhour t ywored. eov , h j y ari h r d ed oo oh t s he k Mor er t e ur coul have ari att sum s awar t each pl ntf f unpai overi e wihout d rved he ded o ai if or d tm t f orng i any tavel i e.Accor ngl t r act i n r tm di y, he equestf r it uri DENI or em ti s t ED. CO NCLUSI N O Based on t f egoi i i he or ng, t s ORDERED AND ADJUDG ED t t Def hat he endant M oton f Sanctons and s' i or i Ator eyFees ( 1 1 27 1 i GRANTED i p tand DENI i pad. e tn DE# 39, 2/ / 3) s n ar ED n Th j ysawar of$50,00 f pas an f t e men al ai an s fer on Mr Me i s ur ' d 0 or t d u ur t p n d uf i ng . j a' r alaton cl m i STRI et i i ai s CKEN and VACATED.The Cour w i gr ator s f t t l ant t ney' ees o l t def he endant r at onl t t flng oft sanctons m oton.The def s el ed y o he i i he i i endant shal s l atem ptt r v t am ountofator s f wih t pl ntfs' t o esole he t ney' ees t he ai i counsel l t ar f . f hey e unabl t r ve t m ater t def e o esol he t , he endant shal fl t rm oton f ator s f s l ie hei i or t ney' ees al wih suppori document i no I ert Frday,Febr y 28,2014.I i ong t tng aton at han i uar ts f udher ORDERED AND ADJUDGED t t Pl ntfs'Moton f I posii of hat he ai if i or m ton Li da e Damage ( # 1 1 / 8/ 3)i GRANTED i p tand DENI i p qui t d s DE 09, 0 1 1 s n ar ED n ad. 4 The El h Cic ti Bonnerv.Ci ofPrchar 661F.2d 1 event rui n t v i d, 206,1 ( t Ci. 207 11h r 1 )( banc , 981 en ) adopt aspr eden decii o t f merFit Cicuir ed ec t sons f he or fh r t ender prort ed i o O ct ober1,1981. 8 The pl nt#s ar entted t I dat dam ages f t roveri cl m s. t pl ntf ai i e il o i qui ed or hei tme ai As o ai i f OmarDe1 menVal Cen eno, h Cour wi eneraj dgmen i t e amoun o Car l e t te t l t u l tn h tf $9 720 ( 45,60 i unp d o edi pl $45, i I i t d damages . t 0, $ 3 n ai v me us 360 n i da e qu ) As o pl n i Me i t e Coud wi ent aj gmenti t e amoun o $9 720 ( 45,60 i aitf j h f a, l er ud l nh t f 0, $ 3 n unp d ov me pls $ 3 i I dat damag ) I i f t ai edi u 45,60 n i qui ed es .t s urher ORDERED AND ADJUDGED t t Def hat he endants M oton f Rem it urof ' i or ti t Dam ages I pr m opery Awar f Tr v Ti ( l ded or a el me DE# 1 7,1 2 1 )i DENI 3 2/ 6/ 3 s ED. n s a , or hi d uar DONE AND O RDERED i Cham ber atM i i Fl a t s r da ofFebr y, r 2014. e t JOH . LI VAN UNI TED STAT S MAG I STRATE JUDGE Copi pr ded t es ovi o: AIcounselofr d I ecor 9
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